South Euclid police arrest six during the Sacred Heart of Jesus Festival

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Six people were arrested between Friday and Saturday in connection several incidents outside of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Festival.

Police faced large crowds at the festival during the weekend and had to use chemical agents known as "pepper balls" to disperse unruly people and end fights, reports said.

Dave Ireland, Pastor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, said the incidents were an unfortunate black eye for an otherwise enjoyable event.

"A group of young people came through the event, which caused some disruption," said Dave Ireland, the Pastor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. "Police handled things very well–they contained it."

Police responded to reports of shots that were fired outside of the festival early Saturday morning. Police have not released further details about the shooting but released reports that detail several arrests that took place during the festival:

An 18-year-old faces charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after being unruly and shouting expletives to an officer. Another 18-year-old faces a charge of disorderly conduct. Both were escorted out of a crowd of people leaving the festival Friday.

A 17-year old faces charges of drug possession and obstruction after fleeing from cops and discarding baggies of marijuana. He jumped a six-foot fence to get away from police, but police found him with more baggies of marijuana in his pants.

A 16-year-old was arrested Saturday after police investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle. Police were told that the car was in the area when shots were fired earlier Saturday at the festival.

The teen fled when police arrived. He knocked a woman to the ground as he ran away. The 16-year-old faces charges of disorderly conduct, obstructing official business and resisting arrest.

An 18-year-old woman faces charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. She was asked to move off of the sidewalk with her friends because they were blocking walkers, reports said.

She refused and when police attempted to pull her to the side she told police to leave her alone and screamed expletives, police said. Police were able to get her to comply after taking out a Taser.

A 21-year-old was cited after walking in front of a police car and refusing to cooperate with officers on Sunday, reports said. He was released because of the increased call volume.

Church leaders will meet with city officials to see how to move forward, Ireland said. The festival is not an annual event but the weekend disruptions were "really sad."

"So many people work so hard to make a beautiful thing for the families," he said. "That's the distressing thing."